CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.— The Montreat men's basketball team put its 5-game winning streak to the test Saturday afternoon when it faced off against the Campbellsville University Tigers in non-conference action. Needing extra time to decide the contest, the Cavaliers outlasted the hosts on their way to an 81-77 overtime victory. With their sixth straight win, the Cavs moved to 11-9 on the season.
 
Gabriel Rivera turned a steal into a quick layup for Montreat's first basket of the matchup, but that proved to be the visitors' lone make out of their first nine tries from the field. Both teams struggled to make shots through the opening 10 minutes as the Cavaliers went just 3-for-13 (23.1 percent) while the Tigers went 4-for-14 (28.6 percent). As a result, the home side maintained a 10-6 lead midway through the first half.
 
Chris Moore's first 3-point bucket of the year opened the floodgates for Montreat in the latter half of the initial frame. Moore, Rivera, RJ Manginello, Michael Erbeck and Jack Keller combined for six 3-pointers in less than nine minutes, allowing the Cavs to create some distance between themselves and their counterpart. Campbellsville tacked on a basket late in the period, but the visiting team entered halftime with a 32-24 advantage on the scoreboard.
 
Montreat's strong close to the half saw it finish 13-of-28 (46.4 percent) overall and 6-for-14 (42.9 percent) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the home side connected on merely 27.6 percent (8-29 FG) of its attempts from the floor and 18.2 percent (2-11 3-pt FG) of its 3-point looks. Edges in made free throws (6-0) and points off turnovers (9-2) kept CU within an arm's length through 20 minutes of play. Rivera led all scorers at the break with 10 points, and Dyllan Barnwell hauled in a half-high six rebounds.
 
Campbellsville (14-6), which scored only 24 points through the initial 20 minutes, poured in 11 swift points during the second half's opening 3:27. While the Tigers managed to pull within 36-35, Erbeck, Rivera and Jamiel Wright continued Montreat's torrid 3-point shooting. The trio combined for four makes from deep in the ensuing minutes, handing the visitors their largest lead of the day at 50-39 midway through the frame.
 
Turnovers and fouls plagued the Cavs in the second half, and the Tigers capitalized. Utilizing extra possessions and trips to the free-throw line courtesy of 14 Montreat miscues and 14 Cavalier fouls, the home team erased its deficit completely. Eventually, a 15-3 run resulted in CU surging ahead of Montreat, 62-58. Wright, Erbeck and Rivera eliminated the Campbellsville lead in the closing minutes, but two free throws with six seconds left meant the ballgame needed overtime to break its 66-66 deadlock.
 
A senior from Atlanta, Ga., Wright proved to be the difference in the game's extra period. Wright knotted the score at 68 with a floater in the lane, and his clutch 3-point basket with 2:17 left pushed Montreat's lead up to 76-71. Then, with just three seconds left in a 2-point game, Wright stepped up to the charity stripe and hit both attempts, sealing an 81-77 win the process.
 
"That was a total team effort today," said head coach Anthony Barringer. "Winning on the road is hard enough, but winning on the road after being in control and having to go to overtime is even harder. Our guys were lionhearted today, and I'm happy they were able to finish the job."
 
The Tigers committed 14 fewer turnovers (25-11) and owned a 29-10 advantage in points off turnovers, but the Cavs came away with the overtime road victory thanks to their shooting and rebounding. Montreat controlled the glass (49-31) while shooting 47.5 percent (29-61 FG) overall and 44.1 percent (15-34 3-pt FG) from deep. On the other side, CU made just 37.5 percent (24-64 FG) of its looks and 19.0 percent (4-21 3-pt FG) of its 3-point tries. Campbellsville did possess a decided edge at the free-throw line thanks to 25 makes versus Montreat's eight.
 
Wright led all scorers with 22 points, while Rivera (20 points) and Erbeck (14 points) joined him in double figures. Rivera grabbed a game-best eight boards, and Collin Mills tied for a game-high with five assists.
 
The Montreat men's basketball team returns to Appalachian Athletic Conference play on Wednesday with a matchup at Columbia International University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Columbia, S.C.